NPP CrIS Sensor Performance Review and Cal/Val Plan Overview

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is part of the Crosstrack Infrared and Microwave Sounding Suite (CrIMSS) instrument suite that will be used to produce accurate temperature, water vapor, and pressure profiles on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) bridging mission and upcoming Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) operational missions. The NPP CrIS flight model has completed sensor qualification, characterization, and calibration and is now integrated with the NPP spacecraft in preparation for the launch. This presentation will review the CrIS performance and provide a comparison to the AIRS and IASI heritage that it builds upon. It will also review the key components of the planned ground and on-orbit calibration and validation (CAL/VAL) activities, including the implementation and testing of the CrIMSS Government Resource for Algorithm Verification, Independent Testing, and Evaluation (GRAVITE) resource. GRAVITE serves as the Cal/Val computing facility for acquisition, processing, and distribution of targeted data product resources by subject matter experts at government, academic, and industry partner institutions on NPP.